In 2024, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation announced a grant from the Lilly Endowment Inc. of $250 million to come alongside the state’s Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI) 2.0 program. Of that $250 million, $65 million was earmarked for investments in arts and cultural projects and programs, in what is the largest statewide arts funding program in history. Prior to making grants out of that pool of funds, the IEDC is making planning grants available to READI regions to engage expert consultants to assemble a plan or strategy that incorporates arts and culture into the region’s READI implementation plan.
This initiative is designed to cultivate a deeper network of stakeholders, identify impactful projects, and develop a comprehensive arts and culture strategy that extends beyond READI to position regions for future funding opportunities. By intentionally integrating arts and culture into regional development plans, this process will strengthen collaboration between the creative and economic development sectors, laying the foundation for meaningful, long-term growth.
Northeast Indiana is taking a bold step forward in cultivating its creative economy by leveraging the opportunity to commission a creative sector industry strategy to leverage arts and culture as catalysts for economic growth, vibrant communities, and enhanced quality of life. This effort builds upon our long-standing commitment to economic diversification and capitalizes on the momentum of the nationally recognized READI program.
We have assembled a small steering committee made up of representatives from higher education, the private sector, the performing arts, and cultural institutions from both urban and rural communities within the region. We are also partnering with Visit Fort Wayne, represented on the steering committee, which is conducting a concurrent music economy study with partial financial assistance from the Northeast Indiana Strategic Development Commission.
To honor the planning process, IEDC will hold off on accepting new project submissions/funding requests until these plans are underway. In the second or third quarter of 2025, regions will have the chance to present their strategies to one another and use their insights to inform project proposals for future calls. In the meantime, our great partners at the IEDC and the Indiana Arts Commission are making themselves available to answer questions and provide guidance as regions embark on this exciting journey.
If you have any specific questions about the process, please do not hesitate to reach out to a member of the NEI team, and we will happily connect you with the most appropriate contact and resources.
